For Immediate Release
eureka, illinois
November 26, 2008
Eureka well represented on all-Conference teams
The St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has announced its Football All-Conference, with a total of seven Red Devils receiving recognition. First year running back Brandon Ards (Orlando, Fla./Dr. Phillips) was placed on the Second Team and was the Co-Offensive Newcomer of the Year for the league.
Six others were Honorable Mention All-SLIAC: James Albers (Mendota, Ill./HS), Dan Askew (Farmer City, Ill./Blue Ridge), Matt Knake (Freeburg, Ill./HS), Sean Smith (Mendota, Ill./HS), Todd Stewart (Downs, Ill./Tri-Valley) and Jordan Vignoni (Lancaster, Calif./Quartz Hill).
Ards led the No. 2 ranked rushing attack in the conference with a total of 624 yards and an average rush of 6.4. He ranked third in the SLIAC individually with 78 yards per game, but led the led league in yards-per-carry. The 5-9 freshman speedster also chipped in 124 yards receiving to rank third in the league with 104.4 all-purpose yards per contest. He went over 100 yards rushing in two games, including a season-high 126 versus Huntingdon, which finished with the top ranked rushing defense in the SLIAC. Ards, who scored a total of five touchdowns (three rushing, two receiving), shared Offensive Newcomer of the Year accolades with Marc Randle of MacMurray.
Four other members of the EC offense received Honorable Mention, including three members of the Red Devils' offensive line, which was consistently one of the top units in the league throughout the year. The same group of five linemen started all nine games. Senior left tackle James Albers, junior right tackle Todd Stewart and junior center Jordan Vignoni helped pave the way for the Eureka (3-6, 2-5 SLIAC) rushing attack to gain 2,029 yards for an average of over 225 yards per game — the second best in the conference and the 24th highest average in the country. The Red Devils also benefitted from much improved pass protection as EC allowed 19 sacks after surrendering 38 in the 2007 season.
Eureka put up 22.8 points per game, which is the highest scoring average for EC in 11 years. The Red Devils averaged over 391 yards per contest, giving them the 48th ranked offense out of 235 NCAA Division III squads. In addition to the superb offensive line play, senior wide receiver and special teams ace Dan Askew was a catalyst for the EC attack and also received Honorable Mention All-Conference honors. Askew ranked third in the conference with 3.9 receptions per game. He had a total of 31 catches for 304 yards and chipped in 15 extra points as the team's place kicker. Askew saved his best performance for Senior Day, hauling in seven throws for 87 yards and recording three tackles on kickoff coverage.
Members of the Eureka defense receiving Honorable Mention were Matt Knake and Sean Smith. Knake led Eureka with 87 tackles and 14 tackles for a loss. He was named SLIAC Player of the Week after recording 14 tackles in the Red Devils' win over Blackburn. The 5-11 junior linebacker ranked third in the league in both tackles and tackles for loss. Knake had at least eight tackles in each of Eureka first eight games of the season.
Smith, who had started 25 games on the EC offensive line prior to this season, earn All-Conference recognition after just one season on the defensive side of the ball. He led the Red Devils and ranked ninth in the conference in sacks. He was also 10th in the SLIAC in tackles for loss. A 6-1 senior defensive end, Smith amassed for a total of 36 tackles and 9.5 tackles for a loss of 26 yards. He recorded a touchdown when he intercepted a pitch and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown versus Blackburn.
The conference and other team awards will be presents at the E-Tribe Football Banquet to be held on December 7 at 5:00 pm in the Cerf Center on the Eureka campus.
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For More Information Contact:
Bryan Moore
Sports Information Director
Eureka College
300 E. College Avenue
Eureka, Illinois 61530
309-467-6456
bmoore@eureka.edu
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